2023 PSSAC Member Questionnaire | Professional Soil Scientists Association of California

1. I am currently a(n):

2. Requirements for Professional Member. A Professional Member is currently required to be Certified with SSSA as CPSC or CPSS, or to meet the US OPM criteria for a GS-470 position, plus have 5 years professional working experience as a soil scientist. Do you think this should be changed? Please include more detail in your comments, below.

Yes
No
See my comments, below.

3. Change the name of “Candidate” to “Regular” Member? PSSAC’s ByLaws currently offer members who have the required education, but not the 5 years of experience, a Candidate Membership. PSSAC’s leadership is considering changing this designation from “Candidate” to “Regular.” Additionally, it is proposed that Regular membership dues would be the same as Professional Members.

I agree with changing the designation to "Regular" rather than "Candidate," with annual dues being the same as Professional Member dues.
"Candidate" Member is fine with me.
See my comments, below.

4. Annual Membership Dues. Do you feel that the current membership dues rates ($55 Professional, $20 Candidate, $20 Associate, $10 Student) are:

About right
Too high
Too low
See my feedback in the comments, below.

5. Student Member Dues. Regarding student members' dues specifically, do you think student member annual dues should be:

$10.00/year
$5.00/year
Free (for up to four years)

6. For PSSAC to be a sustainable organization, it needs to increase its membership by recruiting more early and mid-career soil scientists and possibly also increasing the number of associate and student members. Please check the boxes of member recruiting opportunities you think would be most successful:

Provide members with applications and encourage them to invite a colleague
Offer an introductory first year of free membership
Encourage more interactions with students interested in soil science such as awards for soil judging competitions, and offering even more scholarships to attend meetings, etc.
Send mailer to non-member Soil Scientists.
Promote PSSAC more on social media.
See my other suggestions in the comments, below.

9. Meetings. How important are in-person meetings to you?

Important, I like the physical interaction with the soils and landscapes, as well as the camaraderie.
Not very important, virtual meetings work better for me.
I like both in-person and virtual meetings.
See my comments, below.

10. Officers. Would you consider serving as an officer of PSSAC?

Yes
No
See my comment, below.

11. My notes and comments:

Submitted by (name):